Bose QuietComfort 45 Review: Premium Quality Headphones for Audiophiles
Bose is a brand synonymous with high-quality audio products, and their latest offering – the QuietComfort 45 headphones – do not disappoint. These headphones, which retail from €319, are designed for audiophiles who demand the best sound quality and noise cancellation capabilities available.
First Impressions
The Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones come in a compact and sturdy case that is easy to transport and store. Inside the case, you’ll find the headphones, a short USB-C charging cable, and a 3.5mm to 2.5mm audio cable. The audio cable is not optional since these headphones can be used in wired mode as well. This feature is particularly useful for those who prefer to listen to their music in higher-end audio formats such as WAV or FLAC.
Design and Comfort
The Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones are full-sized but not oversized, measuring 18.4 cm high and just over 15 cm wide. They weigh only 0.24 kg, making them easy to wear for extended periods, and the carry case is an additional 0.18 kg. The headphones fold neatly into the case, which measures 21.1cm by 14.5cm, making them easy to pack for travel.
The ear cushions are smooth, pleatless, and made of plush faux leather. They fit securely over the ears without applying too much pressure to the head, making them comfortable for long listening sessions. The headphones also come in two special edition colours – a stylish grey and a very attractive Midnight Blue – both of which are aesthetically appealing.
Connectivity and Controls
The Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones feature Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity and support AAC Bluetooth but do not support aptX or aptX HD. They have a device list where you can store up to eight gadgets and can be connected to two sources at once, such as your phone and tablet. The physical buttons for controls include an action button, a multi-function button, and volume controls. The action button is where you switch between Quiet and Aware noise-cancelling modes.
Noise-Cancellation
The Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones live up to their reputation as excellent noise-cancelling headphones. The Quiet mode is superb and instantly provides a smooth listening environment with the audio optimized by Bose. The noise-cancelling capability is so good that even airplane noise dissolves when you activate it. The Aware mode is also clever, as it adjusts the audio nicely so that you get a full sound while still being aware of your surroundings.
Call Quality
While the call quality on the Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones is good, it is perhaps where they don’t perform as well as they could. They do a good job of eliminating wind noise but do not match up to some of the other high-end headphones in terms of call quality.
Battery Life
The maximum battery charging time for the Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones is around 2.5 hours, with a 15-minute charge giving you up to three hours of playback time. With a full charge, you can get up to 22 hours of playback time, which is impressive.
Bose Music App
The Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones come with the accompanying Bose Music App, which is available for Android and iOS. While you don’t need to use this, it is worthwhile as it allows you to access an additional feature set-up and customize audio settings according to your preferences.
Conclusion
The Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones are a superb investment for audiophiles who demand the best sound quality and noise-cancelling capabilities. Though they don’t support aptX or aptX HD and the call quality is not the best in its class, they make up for it with excellent noise-cancellation, battery life, and overall audio quality. Having to choose between the Bose QuietComfort 45 and the Sony WH-1000XM5 is a difficult call, but the Bose wins in price as it costs €100 less.
